Packers Cornerbacks Gifted With All of the Tools Needed to Succeed

There were only two years between drafts that the Packers used their second-round pick on a cornerback. It was Quinten Rollins in 2015 and Kevin King just two months ago.

In fact, the Packers used both of their first two picks in the 2015 NFL Draft to re-stock the cornerback position after losing both Tramon Williams and Davon House. Both had enjoyed a lengthy tenure in Green Bay but were seen as disposable just months following the 2015 NFC Championship collapse.

There may have been more urgency now than ever to throw all of the eggs into a basket and take a gamble on a top cornerback. The Packers were coming off of one of their worst campaigns in terms of pass defense since 2011, but you've heard all about that since October.

The Packers didn't commence their draft haul with two consecutive cornerback selections. Instead, they selected Washington cornerback—the only cornerback they drafted—Kevin King at 33rd overall. However, he's not an immediate fix.

It would be foolish to expect King to come in and immediately lead the team in interceptions through his rookie season. All the more reason to keep expectations low and let King's upside do the talking. The Packers will need him to.

Bringing back the experienced and familiar House was also prioritized to help bolster the cornerback position. He offers a temporary, $2.8 million dollar solution to an underwhelming group. Whether or not he can meet the criteria for why the Packers brought him back to 1265 Lombardi Avenue remains to be seen.

House is capable of returning to Green Bay and starting, as he has extensive familiarity with defensive coordinator Dom Capers and cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt Jr. As the Packers were experimenting with in their off-season practices, there's a probable chance LaDarius Gunter and House open up the season on the perimeter with Damarious Randall in the slot.

Randall, who performed at a sub-optimal level in 2016 due to his nagging groin injury that later required mid-season surgery, is also expected to bounce back in what seems to be his premier slot role. Otherwise known as the "star" position that Charles Woodson once played during his time in Green Bay.

A former safety at Arizona State, the ex-Sun Devil is claimed to be far more useful in open space as opposed to the boundary, which was a position the Packers used him in occasionally a season ago. With a groin injury, playing an unfamiliar position and without your No. 1 corner; that's a recipe for disaster almost every time. A disaster similar to what was seen from the Packers' secondary in 2016.

Gunter is also returning with another year of experience—and a lot of it—under his belt. It's almost as if general manager Ted Thompson has given the Packers all of the tools needed to succeed on the defensive side of the ball in the upcoming season.

He didn't break the bank for a defensive juggernaut at corner who may or may not be a product of players around him with his former team and would take a nose-dive into nothingness in Green Bay. Thompson isn't about risks. He's about stability. It's what he's built his regime on and what he'll likely continue doing until his contract expires after the 2018 NFL Draft.

Of course, injuries play a big factor in this otherwise hazy outlook on this position group. Injuries already decimated the Packers once a season ago, but the odds are they're more prepared as far as depth goes for the worst-case scenario.

It's a matter of putting the pieces together and forming cohesion. With Randall shifting around, a couple of new additions being worked into the mix and arguably the best quarterback in football in Aaron Rodgers, the Packers may be en route to building a stairway to a sixth Super Bowl appearance on the pillars of success.

Unfortunately, it's only June.

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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (17)

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

June 27, 2017 at 01:00 pm

I'm actually more intrigued by some of the raw, developmental guys, like Hawkins and Waters. Maybe they have the skills to help us outside.

I like Gunter, but his lack of speed is so severe, it really hampers his potential.

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ZacharyJacobson's picture

June 27, 2017 at 01:06 pm

Don't get me started on Hawkins, I can talk about that guy for days.

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RCPackerFan's picture

June 27, 2017 at 01:54 pm

I still don't understand why we never saw Hawkins again after he gave up that big play to Marvin Jones.

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dobber's picture

June 27, 2017 at 02:39 pm

Yeah...why keep him on the roster in that CB emergency and never let him see the light of day?

Makes no sense at all. Play him, or cut/PS him.

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ZacharyJacobson's picture

June 27, 2017 at 03:30 pm

I'm assuming the same reason Trevor Davis saw a huge decrease in playing time after a muffed punt - I think - vs Philly. I might've gotten the game mixed up. But basically: if you're a rookie or rookie UDFA, your margin for error has to be almost nonexistent.

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Since'61's picture

June 27, 2017 at 03:58 pm

If we can't find a better starting CB than Gunther out of King, Randall, Rollins, Hawkins, Waters or whoever, then we better resign Woodson or Herb Adderly because Gunther is a TD for our opponent waiting to happen on every possession. He should be chucked never mind be one of our starting boundary corners. He just doesn't have the speed to play against NFL starting receivers. I would much prefer that we start King and take our chances than start Gunther and know that we're going to give up 2-3 big gains, probably TDs, in every game we play. Thanks, Since '61

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

June 27, 2017 at 06:34 pm

Absolutely agreed.

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Handsback's picture

June 28, 2017 at 07:16 am

61, while I do agree that Gunter may not be the Packer's first choice as a starter...he did do some pretty good work against Dallas and NY in the playoffs.

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Bedrock's picture

June 27, 2017 at 04:18 pm

Green Bay picked up Tramon Williams in 2006 the same year they got Woodson. For years Al Harris and Chuck manned the outside while Williams learned.

These youngsters have to "learn up" fast. The loss of Shields is still being felt and, sadly, TT is in reaction mode. In his defense, I'm not sure what free agency move he should have made that would compliment Dom's system (perhaps another issue altogether). He stuck to his draft and develop.

Here's hoping the develop part speeds along quickly.

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Packer_Fan's picture

June 27, 2017 at 05:31 pm

I like this year's picks, King and Jones. And they are playing the roles they did. In college. Not so with Randall and Collins. Converts. Randall never seemed to be prepared before the snap. Always moving. Suggests undisciplined to me. And I hope Waters or Hawkins develops so we can end the slow footed Gunther era

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PETER MAIZ's picture

June 28, 2017 at 03:21 am

Gunter is definitely slow and can't keep up. This could be a problem if the Pack can't provide pressure the quarterbacks.

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croatpackfan's picture

June 28, 2017 at 03:35 am

"Unfortunately, it's only June."

The best conclusion! Dead season!

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marcopo's picture

June 28, 2017 at 09:33 am

Guess I've been drinking packerade during the off- season, but I'm confident the Packers will a a very improved secondary. Last year was a perfect storm of secondary disaster. Watching Gunter try to play Julio was, well we know. Gunter has heart and smarts but he can't be put on a premier wide receiver. Never. Jones will be a step up from Hyde, and that's a good thing. King, Randall, Rollins, Hawkins will be competitive as it gets. At least one of these guys will step up. But if injuries hit again, we have far more depth.

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PatrickGB's picture

June 28, 2017 at 06:32 pm

I liked Gunter but not as a #1 corner. He has a future as a backup. R&R have a future as well. My hope is that Capers learns how to use them all and fit scheme to talent.

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marcopo's picture

June 29, 2017 at 08:26 am

I think Capers has big plans this year for hybrid players. Brice and Jones will be very active. Tight ends will find it much tougher.

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GBPDAN1's picture

June 29, 2017 at 08:39 am

"there's a probable chance LaDarius Gunter and House open up the season on the perimeter with Damarious Randall in the slot."

Does this scare the $&!t out of anyone else?? Or, is it just me? I'm hoping for the best, but all 3 of those players were among the worst CBs in the league last year!!

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Patrick Helms's picture

July 02, 2017 at 06:39 pm

I just don't see it. We needed a veteran CB and a new CB couch. You can't keep doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. New talent takes time to develop and without an experienced shutdown corner to teach and motivate the them, it isn't going to happen quickly. Wishful thinking on this op...expect Gunter start on the outside. This same old staff doesn't know how to adjust.

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